One of the tight ends the Patriots brought in to replace the retired Rob Gronkowski will not be able to suit up for the first month of the 2019 season.
Benjamin Watson revealed on his Facebook page that he is facing a four-game suspension by the NFL for failing a drug test due to treatment he received after his retirement from football in December.
Here's an excerpt from the post:
After my contract expired last March I told my doctors I was finished playing, went through a series of medical tests and was prescribed Bio Identical Testosterone Cypionate to assist in healing my body and mind.
On March 29, nine days after I started therapy, I was randomly tested under our substance policies. I complied out of habit, never thinking in that moment I'd want to come back.
Watson received interest from several teams to come out of retirement, and ultimately signed a one-year, $3 million deal to return to the team that drafted him 32nd overall in 2004.
The 14-year veteran has accumulated 5,885 receiving yards and 44 touchdowns in his career, and in 2018 recorded 35 receptions for 400 yards and two touchdowns with the Saints in 2018. Watson should prove to be a key piece in the Patriots' offense this season with the absence of Gronkowski.
Until he returns, New England has Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Matt LaCosse, Stephen Anderson, Andrew Beck and Ryan Izzo as their options at tight end.
New England Patriots
Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Celtics easily on your device.